Package for holding two can units and a more fragile unit and blank for making same

ABSTRACT

A package for holding two chime-ended can units with a more fragile unit, comprising a wrapper extending longitudinally around the can units and provided at one end with a set of flaps and a partition wall to define a storage space for the fragile unit. Each of the can units is locked in the wrapper by chimelocking tabs. The can unit aligned with the packaging space for the more fragile unit is shorter than the other can unit. Either can unit may consist of a single can or may be two cans taped together.

D United States Patent [151 3,638,787

Phillips, Jr. 1 1 Feb. 1, 1972 [54] PACKAGE FOR HOLDING TWO CAN2,974,848 3/1961 Fielding ..229l27 UNITS AND A M FRAGILE UNIT 2,814,38511/1957 Stone ..206/65 C 2,687,248 8/1954 Freeman.... ..229/40 UX ANDBLANK FOR MAKING SAME 2,571,833 10/1951 Chidsey ..206/65 C [72]lnventor: Floyd L. Phillips, Jr., Winston-Salem,

N C Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer AnorneyLester W. Clark, Robert S.Dunham, P. E. 1 Asslsnee Reynolds Tobacco Company, Henninger, Thomas F.Moran, Gerald w. Griffin, R. Bradlee smn'Salem, Boal, Christopher C.Dunham and Robert Scobey F'l 7 1 22 led Ju y 57 ABSTRACT Appl' 52976 Apackage for holding two chime-ended can units with a more fragile unit,comprising a wrapper extending longitudinally [52] US. Cl. ..206/47 R,229/27, 229/40 around h can ni and p i at one end with a set of 51 1111.C1. ..B65d 65/24, 865d 5/48,B65d 5/54 p and a Partition wall to define astorage space for the [58 Field 01 Search ..206/47 R; 229/40, 27 fragileunit. Each of the can uhit-q is locked in the pp y chime-locking tabs.The can unit aligned with the packaging [56] Reteremes Cited space forthe more fragile unit is shorter than the other can unit. Either canunit may consist of a single can or may be two UNITED STATES PATENTS ntaped together.

3,552,082 1/1971 Howard ..229/40 X 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PMENIEUHBHEY? 3538 787 SHEET HP 2 mNTOR.

FLOYD L. PHILUPS Jl? new ATTORNEY PATENTEDFEB H972 3. sum 2 8 787 If MPACKAGE FOR HOLDING TWO CAN UNITS AND A MORE FRAGILE UNIT AND BLANK FORMAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Can holders have beenconstructed using wrappers extending around an assembly of two or morecans and having chime-locking tabs, as shown, for example, in the patentto Chidsey, US. Pat. No. 2,571,833. It has also been suggested toenclose more fragile units in the same wrapper. See the Chid sey patentand also Foster U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,413.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apackage for holding two can units together with a more fragile unit of atype which requires considerably more protection from the package thando the can units. For example, the more fragile unit may consist of aglass jar or a package enclosed by metal foil which cannot tolerate thesame degree of rough handling as the can units.

The package as disclosed includes a wrapper for extending longitudinallyaround a long can unit and a short can unit standing beside it. Abovethe short can unit flaps are provided on the wrapper which cooperatewith the top portion of the long can unit to define an enclosure for thefragile unit. The two cans are chime-locked in place, the chime-lockingflap for the upper end of the short can unit being formed on thepartition which separates the enclosure of the fragile unit from the endof the short can.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a package wrapperin accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIG. 1 party assembledto form the package wrapper.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view, from a different angle, showing thecompleted package wrapper.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the canunits in place in the wrapper.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the assembled package of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view taken in section along the line 66 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The blank as it appears in FIG. 1 includes a firstside panel portion 1, a base panel 2 connected to one end of the panelportion 1 by a score line 3. A second side panel 4 is connected to theopposite side of the base panel 2 by a score line 5. A top panel 6 isconnected to the opposite end of the side panel 4 by a score line 7. Asecond portion 8 of the first side panel is connected to the oppositeside of the top panel 6 by a score line 9. A partition 10, half as wideas the panels 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8, is connected by a score line 11 to theother side of the second portion 8 of the first side panel. A tab 12 isconnected to the short side of the partition opposite the score line 11by means of a slotted line 13.

A pair of chime-locking flaps l5 and 16 are connected to the base panel2 by means of score lines 17 and 18 respective ly extending at rightangles to the score lines 3 and 5. A pair of side flaps 20 and 21 areconnected to the second side panel 4 and the second portion 8 of thefirst side panel by means of score lines 22 and 24, respectively. Athird chime-locking flap 25 is connected to the top panel 6 by means ofa score line 26. A fourth chime-locking flap 19 is connected to thepartition 10 by means of a score line 38. A third side panel 27 isconnected to the opposite side of the top panel 6 by a score line 28. Aflap 29 is connected to the side panel 27 by a score line 30.

In assembling the package, the panels are folded on the score lines 3,5, 7 and 9 so that the top and bottom panels 6 and 2 are parallel andthe side panel 4 is parallel to the first portion 1 and the secondportion 8 of the first side panel, as shown in FIG. 2. The top of thefirst portion 1 overlaps the second portion 8 of the first side paneland is attached thereto,

for example, by a suitable adhesive. The partition 10 extends across theassembled package between the side panel 4 and the side panel portion 8.The tab 12 is attached to the side panel 4, for example, by a suitableadhesive.

A tear strip 31, of conventional construction, is provided across thepanel portion 1 to facilitate opening the package. The side flaps 20 and21 are folded inwardly, as shown in FIG. 2, and cooperate with the sidepanel 27 and its attached flap 29 to define a storage space, closed onall but one side for the fragile unit to be enclosed in the package. Theopen side of that storage space can be seen in FIG. 3.

The assembly of the package is completed by placing in the wrapper, asformed in FIG. 3, a tall can unit 32 (FIG. 6) which may consist of anupper can 34 and a lower can 35 held together by a strip 36 of tapeencircling a chime. The tall can unit 32 is held in place by thechime-locking flaps 15 and 25, which are bent inwardly to engage thechimes, in a conventional manner. A shorter can 37 is inserted in theopposite side of the package, and is locked in place by thechime-locking flaps 16 and 19.

After the can units 32 and 37 are placed within the wrapper, a fragileunit 40 may be placed within the storage space. The side flaps 20 and 21may then be closed over it and the side panel 27 moved downwardly intoplace, with the tab 29 tucked in above the partition 10.

It may be seen that the open side of the storage space for the fragileunit 30 is closed by the can unit 32, so that the fragile unit iscompletely protected. The package may be opened readily withoutstruggling with the chime-locking flaps by use of the tear strip 31,which immediately releases both can units from the package.

Iclaim:

l. A paperboard blank for forming a package for holding an assembly oftwo chime-ended can units of different lengths and another more fragileunit, comprising:

a. a first portion of a first side panel;

b. a base panel connected along one side to one end of said first panelportion by a first score line;

c. a pair of chime-locking flaps connected by second and third scorelines to opposite sides of the base panel, said second and third scorelines being at right angles to the first score line;

d. a second side panel, rectangularly elongated and connected at one endto the side of the base panel opposite said one side by a score line;

e. a first side flap, slilorter than the second side panel and connectedthereto y a score line extending along a side edge thereof from the endopposite said one end;

f. a rectangular top panel connected along one side to said opposite endof the second side panel by a score line;

g. a third side panel, shorter than said second side panel, said thirdside panel being rectangular and connected along one side by a scoreline to a side of said top panel at right angles to said one sidethereof;

h. a tab connected to said third side panel by a score line along theside thereof opposite to its connection with said top panel;

. a third chime-locking flap connected by a score line to said top panelalong the side thereof opposite said third side panel;

j. a second portion of said first side panel connected to said top panelby a score line along the side thereof opposite to its connection withsaid second side panel, said second portion of the first panel beingattachable to the end of said first portion opposite said one end;

k. a second side flap having a length equal to said first side flap,said second side flap being connected to said second portion of thefirst side panel by a score line extending along the side edge thereofaligned with said edge of the second side panel to which the first sideflap is connected;

. a partition having a width less than the width of the side panels andend panels, said partition being rectangular in form and connected alongone of its shorter sides by a score line to the edge of the secondportion of the first side panel opposite its connection to the toppanel, the partition having one of its long sides aligned with saidaligned score lines connecting the side flaps to the side panels;

m. a fourth chime-locking flap connected to said partition along saidone long side thereof by a score line; and

n. a tab connected by a slotted score line to the end of said partitionopposite the end attached to the second portion of the first panel, saidtab being attachable to said second side panel.

2. A blank as defined in claim 1, including a tear strip extendingtransversely of the first portion of the first side panel from oneunattached side thereof to the other.

3. A blank as defined in claim 1, in which said partition is one-half aswide as said first and second side panels.

4. A paperboard package for holding an assembly of two chime-ended canunits of different lengths and another more fragile unit, comprising:

a. a first portion of a first side panel;

b. a base panel connected along one side to one end of said first panelportion by a first score line and folded along the score line to extendat right angles to said first panel portion;

c. a pair of chime-locking flaps connected by second and third scorelines to opposite sides of the base panel, said second and third scorelines being at right angles to the first score line;

d. a second side panel, rectangularly elongated and connected at one endto the side of the base panel opposite said one side by a fourth scoreline, said base panel and said second side panel being folded along saidfourth score line so that they extend at right angles;

e. a first side flap, shorter than the second side panel and connectedthereto by a score line extending along a side edge thereof from the endopposite said one end;

f. a rectangular top panel connected along one side to said opposite endof the second side panel by a score line;

g. a third side panel, shorter than said second side panel, said thirdside panel being rectangular and connected by a score line along oneside to a side of said top panel at right angles to said one sidethereof;

b. a tab connected to said third side panel by a second score line alongthe side thereof opposite to its connection with said top panel;

i. a third chime-locking flap connected along one side to said top panelalong the side thereof opposite said third side panel;

j. a second portion of said first side panel connected to said top panelby a score line along the side thereof opposite to its connection withsaid second side panel, said second portion of the first panel beingattached to the end of said first portion, said side panels and said toppanel being folded along their connecting score lines so that the sidepanels are at right angles to the top panel and the first and secondside panels are parallel;

k. a second side flap having a length equal to said first side flap,said second side flap being connected to said second portion of thefirst side panel by a score line extending along the side edge thereofaligned with said edge of the second side panel to which the first sideflap is connected;

1. a partition having a width less than the width of the side panels andend panels, said partition being rectangular in form and connected alongone of its shorter sides by a score line to the edge of the secondportion of the first side panel opposite its connection to the toppanel, the partition having one of its long sides aligned with saidaligned score line connecting the side flaps to the side panels;

m. a fourth chime-locking flap connected to said partition along saidone long side thereof by a score line; and n. a ta connected by aslotted score line to the end of said partition opposite the endattached to the second portion of the first panel, said tab having itsbroad surface attached to said second side panel;

0. said third chime-locking flap cooperating with one of said pair ofchime-locking flaps to hold the longer of the two can units in thepackage;

p. the fourth chime-locking flap cooperating with the other of the twochime-locking flaps to hold the shorter of the two can units in thepackage; and

q. said side flaps and said shorter side panel cooperating with saidpartition to support said fragile unit within said package above theshorter can unit.

5. A package as defined in claim 4, including a tear strip extendingtransversely of the first portion of the first side panel from oneunattached side thereof to the other.

one-half as wide as said first and second side panels.

1. A paperboard blank for forming a package for holding an assembly oftwo chime-ended can units of different lengths and another more fragileunit, comprising: a. a first portion of a first side panel; b. a basepanel connected along one side to one end of said first panel portion bya first score line; c. a pair of chime-locking flaps connected by secondand third score lines to opposite sides of the base panel, said secondand third score lines being at right angles to the first score line; d.a second side panel, rectangularly elongated and connected at one end tothe side of the base panel opposite said one side by a score line; e. afirst side flap, shorter than the second side panel and connectedthereto by a score line extending along a side edge thereof from the endopposite said one end; f. a rectangular top panel connected along oneside to said opposite end of the second side panel by a score line; g. athird side panel, shorter than said second side panel, said third sidepanel being rectangular and connected along one side by a score line toa side of said top panel at right angles to said one side thereof; h. atab connEcted to said third side panel by a score line along the sidethereof opposite to its connection with said top panel; i. a thirdchime-locking flap connected by a score line to said top panel along theside thereof opposite said third side panel; j. a second portion of saidfirst side panel connected to said top panel by a score line along theside thereof opposite to its connection with said second side panel,said second portion of the first panel being attachable to the end ofsaid first portion opposite said one end; k. a second side flap having alength equal to said first side flap, said second side flap beingconnected to said second portion of the first side panel by a score lineextending along the side edge thereof aligned with said edge of thesecond side panel to which the first side flap is connected; l. apartition having a width less than the width of the side panels and endpanels, said partition being rectangular in form and connected along oneof its shorter sides by a score line to the edge of the second portionof the first side panel opposite its connection to the top panel, thepartition having one of its long sides aligned with said aligned scorelines connecting the side flaps to the side panels; m. a fourthchime-locking flap connected to said partition along said one long sidethereof by a score line; and n. a tab connected by a slotted score lineto the end of said partition opposite the end attached to the secondportion of the first panel, said tab being attachable to said secondside panel.
 2. A blank as defined in claim 1, including a tear stripextending transversely of the first portion of the first side panel fromone unattached side thereof to the other.
 3. A blank as defined in claim1, in which said partition is one-half as wide as said first and secondside panels.
 4. A paperboard package for holding an assembly of twochime-ended can units of different lengths and another more fragileunit, comprising: a. a first portion of a first side panel; b. a basepanel connected along one side to one end of said first panel portion bya first score line and folded along the score line to extend at rightangles to said first panel portion; c. a pair of chime-locking flapsconnected by second and third score lines to opposite sides of the basepanel, said second and third score lines being at right angles to thefirst score line; d. a second side panel, rectangularly elongated andconnected at one end to the side of the base panel opposite said oneside by a fourth score line, said base panel and said second side panelbeing folded along said fourth score line so that they extend at rightangles; e. a first side flap, shorter than the second side panel andconnected thereto by a score line extending along a side edge thereoffrom the end opposite said one end; f. a rectangular top panel connectedalong one side to said opposite end of the second side panel by a scoreline; g. a third side panel, shorter than said second side panel, saidthird side panel being rectangular and connected by a score line alongone side to a side of said top panel at right angles to said one sidethereof; h. a tab connected to said third side panel by a second scoreline along the side thereof opposite to its connection with said toppanel; i. a third chime-locking flap connected along one side to saidtop panel along the side thereof opposite said third side panel; j. asecond portion of said first side panel connected to said top panel by ascore line along the side thereof opposite to its connection with saidsecond side panel, said second portion of the first panel being attachedto the end of said first portion, said side panels and said top panelbeing folded along their connecting score lines so that the side panelsare at right angles to the top panel and the first and second sidepanels are parallel; k. a second side flap having a length equal to saidfirst side flap, sAid second side flap being connected to said secondportion of the first side panel by a score line extending along the sideedge thereof aligned with said edge of the second side panel to whichthe first side flap is connected; l. a partition having a width lessthan the width of the side panels and end panels, said partition beingrectangular in form and connected along one of its shorter sides by ascore line to the edge of the second portion of the first side panelopposite its connection to the top panel, the partition having one ofits long sides aligned with said aligned score line connecting the sideflaps to the side panels; m. a fourth chime-locking flap connected tosaid partition along said one long side thereof by a score line; and n.a tab connected by a slotted score line to the end of said partitionopposite the end attached to the second portion of the first panel, saidtab having its broad surface attached to said second side panel; o. saidthird chime-locking flap cooperating with one of said pair ofchime-locking flaps to hold the longer of the two can units in thepackage; p. the fourth chime-locking flap cooperating with the other ofthe two chime-locking flaps to hold the shorter of the two can units inthe package; and q. said side flaps and said shorter side panelcooperating with said partition to support said fragile unit within saidpackage above the shorter can unit.
 5. A package as defined in claim 4,including a tear strip extending transversely of the first portion ofthe first side panel from one unattached side thereof to the other.
 6. Apackage as defined in claim 4, n which said partition is one-half aswide as said first and second side panels.